Seed germination of Bowdichia virgilioides Kunth, under water stress

• Autor(a) principal: Silva, Lígia M. De M. [UNESP]
• Data de Publicação: 2001
• Outros Autores: Aguiar, Ivor B. De [UNESP], Rodrigues, Teresinha De J.d. [UNESP]
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UNESP
• Texto Completo: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1415-43662001000100021; http://hdl.handle.net/11449/211620
• topic: forest seed; physiological quality; osmotic potential; polyethyleneglycol; semente florestal; qualidade fisiológica; potencial osmótico; polietilenoglicol

Bowdichia virgilioides (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae) is a native tree species in Brazil characteristic of the savannah vegetation. Seeds of this species were submitted to different osmotic potentials induced by polyethyleneglycol (PEG-6000) in order to verify their resistance to drought conditions. Seeds were previously scarified with sulphuric acid and incubated at 25 ºC with an eight hours photoperiod, at osmotic potentials of 0.0, -0.1, -0.3, -0.5, -0.7, -0.9 and -1.1 MPa. It was found that water stress resistance limit ranged from -0.7 to -0.9 MPa. Significant reduction in germination velocity from -0.3 MPa, and final percentage of germination from -0.5 MPa in relation to control, were observed. Germination under drastic conditions of water stress was inhibited, but was restored with an increase of water availability.